Terrorism: FG Asks Court for Secret Trial of Ndume

The federal government has asked a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to conduct a secret trial for Senator Aliyu Ndume, who is standing trial for terrorism charges.
Ndume, a senator from Borno State is standing trial before Justice Gabriel Kolawole for failing to inform law enforcement agencies of the activities of the outlawed Boko Haram sect.
Counsel representing the federal government in the matter, E.A. Orji, in a motion dated September 23, begged the court to protect the identity of the remaining witness that are to give evidence in the matter.
“We urge the court to exclude members of the public from the trial. We also want the court to protect the identities of the remaining witnesses that shall give evidence in this case.
The fundamental rights of the accused has not been violated because his counsel is represented and has not in any way been excluded from the matter. It is in the interest of national security and public safety that the motion should be granted,” he said.
The accused’s counsel, Mr. I. Amaza, in his submission told the court that the request would violate his client’s right to fair hearing.
He told the court to turned down the request of the prosecution and continue with the trial.
After listening to both counsel, Justice Kolawole adjourned the case to October 24 for ruling.

THISDAY

WHO Approves More Nigerian Pharmaceutical Companies

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has certified three additional Nigerian pharmaceutical manufacturing companies to produce drugs locally in accordance with WHO good manufacturing practice (GMP) after the audits and inspections by WHO Pre-qualification team.

The three drug manufacturing companies are Evans Pharmaceutical Ltd,  May & Baker Pharmaceutical Ltd and Chi Pharmaceutical Ltd.
Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu revealed this in Abuja during a press briefing, stating that the certification is a landmark achievement, bringing the total of Nigerian companies manufacturing drugs locally to four (4) with the inclusion of the Swiss Pharma Nigeria Limited already into production.

According to Chukwu, these companies are certified to join other companies within Africa and outside to produce medicines for malaria, HIV/AIDs, tuberculosis and other UN coordinated projects such as the UN Commission on Life Commodities.
Chukwu explained that “by this laudable achievement, Nigeria is recorded among the nations of the world whose local drug industries manufacture at WHO standards.  The WHO GMP standard is the international norm and Nigeria has joined the world in this global phenomenon.

“The world now awaits products such as Artemether-Lumefantrine tablets for malaria, Lamivudine tablets for HIV/AIDS, Levoflaxine tablets for tuberculosis, Zinc sulphate tablets for treatment of diarrhea, fluconazole injections,  ciprofloxacine tablets and many more that are made-in-Nigeria drugs expected to be pre-qualified by the WHO in no distant time.
Accordingly, Chukwu disclosed that the companies in question will begin to compete favourably with pharmaceutical companies the world over in international bidding processes for medicines supplies in relevant global health programmes.
“The issue of WHO Pre- qualification has been one of the major challenges of the Nigerian local drug industries and is of great concern to the government because money/resources are being lost by the government for non -WHO pre-qualification of our local drug manufacturing companies,” he said.

The minister observed that without WHO-prequalification for the local drug manufacturing companies, the Nigerian local drug manufacturing companies cannot participate in international drug supply bidding exercise/tender that are sponsored by the Global Funds and other international development arrangements.
“Today the situation has changed because as earlier mentioned products pre-qualification will happen hopefully by the end of 2014 and the companies in question will begin to participate in international tenders for medicines supplies.
“This is another landmark achievement of government under the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration towards placing the Nigerian pharmaceutical sector on the global trend of affairs and towards the enhancement of availability of good quality medicines in the health care delivery system of Nigeria.

“On the whole eleven (11 ) companies started this Journey and four (4) have scaled the hurdle; I am optimistic that the remaining seven (7) will be pre-qualified soonest while others are aspiring to join the race,” Chukwu said.
He added: “To attain the WHO pre-qualification is capital intensive and the government is aware  of the huge expenditure incurred by the local drug industry to the tune of about $600, 000,000 in pursuance of this cause.
“In this regard, the government will consider certain incentives such as tax holidays and increased level of patronage in order to enable the local drug industry to recoup.

“With this international vote of confidence, it is expected that international procurers of essential medicines will improve the patronage of Nigerian/African-based pharmaceutical manufacturers.”
He commended the collaboration efforts of WHO WAHO, NAFDAC and the local drug companies under the umbrella of PMG-MAN which led to the successful confirmation of the three companies.

THISDAY

ARREST NWOKEDI NWORISARA & HIS CO-CONSPIRATORS IN THE BAYELSA SOCIAL MEDIA COMMITTEE FOR FRAUD NOW! – SAYELBA

• Investigate the SSA on Social Media and Research and all members of the Social Media team

If the Bayelsa State Government and the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor are really serious about their threat to prosecute those who created face Facebook Accounts on the state Governor’s behalf, which they used to defraud people, then they don’t have to look far.

The culprits of this wicked Cyber crime are Members of the Bayelsa State Social Media Committee. We will volunteer one name now.

Nwokedi Nworisara is the chief architect of a Facebook about named Governor Henry Seriake Dickson, which he used to scam Bayelsans with promises of employment.

It is quite unfortunate and tragic that the members of the ill-fated, lacklustre, utterly incompetent and rudderless BSMC/BSMT have now decided to add defrauding the public to their list of antics.

We call on the Government to apply the full weight of the Law on this associate of the SSA to the Governor on Social Media and Research and also investigate further if the SSA is not also culpable in this crime.

Failure on the part of the government to do this will only expose it to public ridicule and disrepute. This is something that we do not wish the government of our dearly beloved state

US Urges FG to Respect Ceasefire

In its first statement since the declaration of a ceasefire between the Nigerian government and the terror group, Boko Haram, the United States government has urged both sides to adhere to the ceasefire accord.

The deputy spokesperson of the US State Department, Ms. Marie Harf, said on Tuesday in Washington, “It would be a thing of joy for the US government if the federal government and members of the Boko Haram sect maintained the ceasefire”.

Harf, who had confirmed the ceasefire Monday in Washington, added that if properly implemented by all the parties involved, it would herald the return of peace to the North-eastern Nigerian states, AFP reported.

“Both parties should do everything to ensure that the ceasefire deal becomes a reality. We confirm reports that a ceasefire has been announced and it appears to have been put into place.

“We would welcome that ceasefire, call on all parties both to implement and maintain such a ceasefire, and hope that such a ceasefire would herald the return of peace to the North-east. This is a region that has had far too little of that.

“It’s our understanding that negotiations about a deal to release the (Chibok) girls continue. Obviously, the US would join the world, I think, in hoping that these girls would be reunited with their families as soon as possible, but it’s our understanding those negotiations do continue,” she said.

The US official however made it known that there was no US involvement in the ceasefire talks or in the discussions. “I don’t believe so, but let me check. Not that I know of. But never say never; I’ll check,” she said.

Doubts have been raised since the federal government said on Friday that it had secured a deal with Boko Haram to free the girls captured in April and to end hostilities.

In the aftermath of Friday’s declaration by Nigeria’s military and presidency, however, reports of attacks continue to emerge, casting further doubts on the credibility of the ceasefire claim.

The Borno Elders’ Forum has said only one faction of Boko Haram had been involved in the deal.

With 80 US military personnel sent to neighbouring Chad for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, the US is the biggest foreign participant in the effort against Boko Haram
which has terrorised parts of northern Nigeria.

Washington has also deployed surveillance drones, spy planes and about 30 civilian and military specialists to support Nigeria’s security forces.

THISDAY

BREAKING NEWS: BAYELSA STATE SCHOLARSHIP BOARD BOSS RESIGNS

The Executive Chairman of the Bayelsa State Scholarship Board, Hon. Foster Ogola has resigned.

ST gathered that this decision was to pave the way for him to pursue a Senatorial Ambition.

Hon. Ogola’s term as Bayelsa State Scholar Board Chairman has been described by a large section of Bayelsans as the worst in the history of the Board. It was characterised by recurrent protests by students of Bayelsa State origin from around the world for the non-payment of their stipends.

Details later.